04 June 1813 – Southern Spain – Cuidad Real Campaign

All Spain

The area outlined in white on the map is the Southern Spain campaign area.

Southern Spain with battles fought

By the end of January most of the experienced French troops had been withdrawn from Spain to form the new Grand Army in Germany.   On 1 February 1813 Marshal Suchet was given command of all the remaining troops in Southern Spain.  He was ordered to abandon Seville and withdraw all the scattered garrisons to Madrid.

General Giron commanded all Spanish troops south of Madrid.   As the French withdrew he ordered his army to concentrate at Badajoz.  It took two weeks for them to do so.   He ordered an immediate advance on Madrid

On 28 February 1813 the Spanish Army reached Merida.   Their slow march allowed the Suchet to reorganize his Army and to march them west to meet the Spanish.   As the Spanish entered Merida, his army arrived at Almarez. 

5 March 1813 – Almarez Campaign.  Marshal Suchet opened the campaign by defeating the Spanish at Almarez and followed that by a second victory at Naval Moral.   The Spanish regrouped and countered by winning at Serrejon and Almarez.  Suchet retreated towards Madrid, allowing Giron to claim a Spanish campaign victory.

18 March 1813 – Talavera Campaign.   The Spanish dominated this campaign, winning both battles at Talavera and a draw at Las Vantas.    The campaign ended in a draw with the Armistice.

5 April 1813 – Armistice.   Despite their run of victories the Spanish Army had  dispersed due to battle casualties and lack of supplies.   They accepted the cease fire in order to reorganise their field army.   It was agreed that the Spanish would concentrate at Aranjuez and the French retreat to Toledo.

12 April 1813 – Toledo Campaign.   The French advance was relentless and the Spanish could do little to delay it.   The guerrilla bands caused some problems for the lines of communication and supply, and even captured two garrisons.   But Suchet ignored his lack of supplies and attacked Moncejon.   The Spanish army was broken and retreated.

Cuidad Real Strategic Map

Each square on the map is a scenic square on the wargames table.   The French main supply base is at Alcoba and the Spanish at Cuidad Real.   This map is for information only, it is not used for map movement.

Cuidad Real Tactical Map

This is the campaign map for movement and transferring battles to the wargames table.   Each square is 7 miles or one 2x2 foot scenic square on the wargames table.   There is one scenic square showing the same detail as each square on the map.   Nine of these squares (3x3) are used to create the wargames table.   When a battle is declared the point of impact (the centre square) is the same on the map and on the table.  

Background to the Cuidad Real Campaign

Suchet and Giron have already fought three campaigns, and the Spanish have won two of them.   Despite this they have been forced to retreat south, and now hold a strong defensive position at Cuidad Rodrigo and command the main road from Madrid to Seville.

Suchet must take this city, and secure his crossing of the river Guadiana, in order to invade southern Spain.

Fifth French Army

Marshal Suchet

7^th French corps

8^th French corps

9^th Vistula corps

10^th Italian corps

Each corps has four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

Spanish Army

General Giron

1^st Spanish corps

2^nd Spanish corps

3^rd Spanish corps

4^th Spanish corps

1^st and 2^nd corps have four infantry brigades, one cavalry brigade and corps artillery

3^rd and 4^th corps have three infantry brigades and corps artillery

Each town has a militia brigade

When a town is occupied by the French the militia become guerrillas